. Chigwin, who knew what was amiss between her friends,
seeing Mrs. Harrington pacing the walk on the other side of the wall,
determined to bring about a meeting, and, if possible, a reconciliation.

"Elizabeth, my dear, that gravel looks perfectly dry. You must come out
in the sun, and see the last of my poor flowers."

"Martha Chigwin," said her visitor, with a solemn face; "do you see that
woman?"

"Yes, I see her. What then?"

"I do not nurse wrath, my love, but I cannot abide her."

"Are not six years long enough to remember a little thing of that sort?
Come along, Elizabeth; you will find that she has grown quite civil and
pleasant-spoken since you used to know her."

So they went out into the garden, and the two ancient foes sniffed and
bridled at each other as they approached through the transparent screen
of tall yellow chrysanthemums which lined Mrs. Chigwin's side of the
wall.

"Mrs. Harrington," said the peacemaker, "there is no need for me to
introduce you to my old friend, Elizabeth Bundlecombe, who has come to
pay me a nice long visit. We shall be her neighbors and close friends, I
hope, and if you will do me the favor to come in this afternoon and
drink a cup of tea with us, we shall be very glad to see you."

"Thank you kindly, Mrs. Chigwin. Good-morning to you, Mrs. Bundlecombe.
I hear you have been living in London, ma'am, quite grand, as the saying
is!"

"No, Mrs. Harrington, not grand at all, ma'am. Don't say so. I have
known what trouble is since my poor dear husband died, and I shall never
feel like being grand again."

"Never again, ma'am? Well, I am sure that Mrs. Bundlecombe knows how to
bear her fortune, whether good or bad. Did you say never again, ma'am?"

The old lady seemed to take this phrase as a kind of comprehensive and
dignified apology for the past, which ought to be met in a conciliatory
manner.

"Well, well, Mrs. Bundlecombe, bygones is bygones, and there's no more
to be said about it. Not but what principle is principle, be it twopence
or twenty pounds."

"Allowance must be made, Mrs. Harrington, for the feelings of the
moment."

"On both sides, ma'am," said Mrs. Harrington.

"Like reasonable parties," said Mrs. Bundlecombe.

Then they nodded at each other with much vigor, and shook hands across
the top of the wall through the branches of the chrysanthemums. Thus
vaguely, but with a clear understanding on the part of both combatants,
peace was made, and good r